[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17037-17041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7418]


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FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD

12 CFR Part 918

FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

12 CFR Part 1261

RIN 2590-AA03, 2590-AA31 and 2590-AA34


Federal Home Loan Bank Directors' Eligibility, Elections, 
Compensation and Expenses

AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Agency, Federal Housing Finance Board.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this rulemaking, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) 
is adopting a final rule that implements two separate proposed rules, 
which relate to Federal Home Loan Bank (Bank) director elections and 
director compensation, respectively. As to director elections, FHFA is 
amending its regulations relating to the process by which successor 
Bank directors are chosen after a directorship is redesignated to a new 
state prior to the end of the term as a result of the annual 
designation of Bank directorships. Under the final rule, the 
redesignation causes the original directorship to terminate and creates 
a new directorship that will be filled by an election of the members.
    As to director compensation, FHFA is implementing section 1202 of 
the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA), which amended 
section 7(i) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (Bank Act) by repealing 
the statutory caps on the annual compensation that can be paid to Bank 
directors. This aspect of the final rule allows each Bank to pay its 
directors reasonable compensation and expenses, subject to the 
authority of the FHFA Director to object to, and to prohibit 
prospectively, compensation and/or expenses that the Director 
determines are not reasonable.

DATES: This rule is effective May 5, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Coates, Associate Director, 
Division of FHLBank Regulation, 202-408-2959, [email protected] or 
Neil R. Crowley, Deputy General Counsel, 202-343-1316, 
[email protected], Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fourth Floor, 
1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552. The telephone number for the 
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf is (800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. In General

    On July 30, 2008, HERA, Public Law 110-289, 122 Stat. 2654 (2008), 
became law and created FHFA as an independent agency of the Federal 
government. Among other things, HERA transferred to FHFA the 
supervisory and oversight responsibilities over the Banks that formerly 
had been vested in the now abolished Federal Housing Finance Board 
(Finance Board). The Banks continue to operate under regulations 
promulgated by the Finance Board until such time as the existing 
regulations are supplanted by regulations promulgated by FHFA.
    Section 1202 of HERA amended section 7 of the Bank Act, which 
governs the eligibility, election, compensation and expenses of Bank 
directors. See 12 U.S.C. 1427. FHFA has implemented section 7 in part 
1261 of its rules. 12 CFR part 1261.
    Section 1201 of HERA (codified at 12 U.S.C. 4513(f)) requires the 
Director of FHFA to consider the differences between the Banks and the 
Enterprises with respect to the Banks' cooperative ownership structure, 
mission of providing liquidity to members, affordable housing and 
community development mission, capital structure, and joint and several 
liability, whenever promulgating regulations that affect the Banks. The 
Director may also consider any other differences that are deemed 
appropriate. In preparing this final rule, the Director considered the 
differences between the Banks and the Enterprises as they relate to the 
above factors and determined that the rule is appropriate, particularly 
because this final rule applies only to the Banks.

II. Bank Director Eligibility and Elections

    In December 2009, FHFA published a proposed rule that would deem 
terminated a directorship that is redesignated to a new state prior to 
the end of its term as a result of the annual designation of Bank 
directorships, with a new directorship created for the new state. See 
74 FR 62708 (Dec. 1, 2009). The new directorship would be filled by an 
election of the members. The proposal constituted a change from the 
current Finance Board rule, which deems the redesignation to create a 
vacancy on the board. Under the Bank Act, vacancies on the board are 
filled by the remaining directors. See 12 U.S.C. 1427(f)(2); 12 CFR 
1261.3 and 1261.4.
    FHFA received one comment on the proposed rule, which was from a 
Bank and related to an aspect of the term limit provisions. Section 
1261.4(d)(2) implements the term limit provision of section 7(d) of the 
Bank Act. See 12 CFR 1261.4(d)(2); 12 U.S.C. 1427(d). The rule provides 
that a term adjusted after July 30, 2008 (the effective date of HERA) 
to a period of fewer than four years is not considered a full term for 
purposes of calculating term limits. See 12 CFR 1261.4(d)(2)(i). The 
Bank suggested that FHFA use the term ``adjusted'' in new paragraph 
1261.3(e) to make clear that a newly created directorship with a term 
of less than four years as a result of a redesignation of directorships 
would not be a full term for purposes of the statutory term limit. FHFA 
agrees that this will clarify application of the rule and has made the 
change in the final rule. FHFA is adopting the remainder of the changes 
as proposed.
    FHFA also is making a technical change to part 1261. It is creating 
a new subpart A, which contains definitions common to all subparts. 
These definitions include the terms Act, Bank, FHFA, and Director. 
These terms no longer will appear in other subparts of part 1261. The 
succeeding subparts will be redesignated subparts B (eligibility and 
elections), C (compensation and expenses), and D (reserved). In the 
newly redesignated subpart B, FHFA is renumbering Sec. Sec.  1261.1 
through 1261.7 as Sec. Sec.  1261.2 through 1261.8, respectively. It is 
removing Sec.  1261.8, which was reserved. FHFA is correcting the 
cross-references within subpart B to take into account the new 
numbering.

III. Bank Director Compensation and Expenses

    In October 2009, FHFA published a proposed rule to address changes 
HERA section 1202 made to section 7(i) of the Bank Act. See 74 FR 54758 
(Oct. 23, 2009). Among other things, section 1202 repealed the 
statutory caps on the annual compensation a Bank can pay to its 
directors, the effect of which was to authorize the Banks to pay 
reasonable compensation and expenses to their directors subject to FHFA 
approval. See

[[Page 17038]]

12 U.S.C. 1427(i). The proposed rule would implement the provisions of 
section 7(i) of the Bank Act in a manner that is consistent with the 
other authorities that the FHFA Director has over the compensation 
practices of the other regulated entities, i.e., the Federal National 
Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.
    FHFA received six public comments on the proposed rule, three from 
Banks, one from the Council of Banks, which is a trade group 
representing all twelve Banks, one from a trade association 
representing home builders, and one from a public interest group. All 
commenters generally supported the rule and the goal of increased 
transparency.
    For aspects of the proposed rule with respect to which FHFA 
received no comments, FHFA is adopting those provisions as proposed, 
and they generally are not addressed in this preamble. One comment 
concerned provisions of part 1261 that were not the focus of this 
rulemaking, such as board diversity and differences between elected and 
independent Bank directors. Because those matters are beyond the scope 
of the proposed rules, FHFA is not addressing them in either the 
regulation or this supplementary information. FHFA discusses issues 
raised by the other comments in the analysis of the appropriate section 
of the final rule below.

A. Definitions--Section 1261.20

    FHFA received no comments on the definition section. However, 
because the term ``expense'' is used throughout the subpart and because 
reimbursable expenses are described as part of proposed Sec.  1261.24, 
FHFA has decided to relocate the substance of the description of 
reimbursable expenses into a new definition. The final rule adds the 
term ``expenses'' to the definition section without making any 
substantive changes from proposed Sec.  1261.24, which is deleted from 
the final rule. FHFA received no comments on Sec.  1261.24.

B. General--Section 1261.21

    FHFA has separated proposed Sec.  1261.21(b) into two parts--the 
first concerns annual reporting requirements relating to anticipated 
compensation for the coming year and the second concerns annual 
reporting requirements relating to compensation and expenses for the 
prior year. FHFA received comments on two aspects of the reporting 
requirements. The first comment concerned the report on compensation a 
Bank expects to pay in the upcoming year. A Bank suggested that FHFA 
change the due date for the report from December 1 to December 31 
because some Banks address compensation issues at the last meeting of 
the year, which may occur later in December. FHFA has made this 
amendment in Sec.  1261.21(b)(1).
    The second group of comments concerned the reporting requirements 
for compensation and expenses that a Bank has paid in the prior year. 
In response to these comments, FHFA is making certain revisions to 
Sec.  1261.21(b) and is deleting proposed Sec.  1261.25, which would 
have required the Banks to disclose certain information about 
compensation practices in their annual reports to members. Finance 
Board regulations long had required the annual reports the Banks 
provide to their members to include certain information about the 
compensation and expenses paid to Bank directors. Section 1261.25 of 
the proposed rule would have expanded the elements a Bank had to 
include in the annual reports to provide members with additional 
information about director compensation, expenses, and meeting 
attendance. That proposal prompted comments questioning whether it 
effectively would require the Banks to include items in their filings 
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that are not 
required by the federal securities laws. Since the Banks became 
registered with the SEC, they generally have ceased providing their 
members an annual report separate from the Form 10-K that they file 
with SEC, which includes information about director and officer 
compensation. FHFA agrees that the expanded provisions of Sec.  1261.25 
of the proposed rule could have the unintended consequence of requiring 
a Bank to include in its Form 10-K information that differs from what 
otherwise is required for SEC registrants, and has determined that the 
appropriate course is to delete from the final rule any requirements 
relating to the content of the Banks' annual reports.
    Because FHFA needs information about director compensation and 
expenses for its own supervisory and regulatory purposes, i.e., to 
assess the reasonableness of the compensation and to compile 
compensation information for its HERA-mandated annual report to 
Congress, it has decided to revise the final rule to require the Banks 
to report the information they would have provided in the annual 
reports to members to FHFA. Thus, Sec.  1261.21(b)(2) of the final rule 
requires the Banks to report by the tenth day of the calendar year, 
seven categories of information relating to director compensation, 
expenses, and meeting attendance for the immediately preceding calendar 
year. Those categories relate to compensation and expenses paid to each 
director, compensation and expenses for all directors, group expenses, 
as well as the number of board and committee meetings held during the 
year and each director's attendance at those meetings. FHFA intends for 
these new reporting requirements to cover compensation, expenses, and 
meetings that occur in calendar year 2010.
    FHFA received several comments about group expenses, such as 
dinners in conjunction with board or committee meetings that a Bank 
does not reimburse back to individual directors. Commenters suggested 
three different methods for dealing with group expenses: (1) Do not 
report it as an expense; (2) treat it as an aggregated expense that 
FHFA will review during exam process; or (3) aggregate it, with the 
average cost allocated back to each director. FHFA believes that these 
group expenses are ``expenses'' relating to the directors' attendance 
at board meetings, but agrees that allocating them among the attending 
directors might be burdensome. Therefore, FHFA has decided that the 
Banks need only provide an aggregate sum of group expenses as part of 
the report on prior year payments.
    Several commenters asked FHFA to clarify that a director can attend 
a board or committee meeting either in person or through electronic 
means, such as video or teleconferencing. FHFA encourages in-person 
attendance by all directors, but will deem an individual director's 
participation in the entire meeting via video or teleconferencing as 
attendance solely for purposes of reporting that director's attendance 
under Sec.  1261.21(b)(2)(vii). The board of directors is still 
required by Sec.  1261.24(a) to hold a minimum of six in-person 
meetings each year, which requirement is separate from the reporting 
requirements of Sec.  1261.21.

C. Director Disapproval--Section 1261.23

    FHFA received several comments on proposed Sec.  1261.23, which 
addresses the FHFA Director's authority to disapprove compensation 
arrangements that do not conform to the reasonableness standard imposed 
by section 7(i) of the Bank Act. One commenter asked FHFA to clarify 
that the prospective disapproval determination or order does not apply 
to earned but unpaid compensation and expenses incurred but not yet

[[Page 17039]]

reimbursed. FHFA has done so in the final rule.
    Two commenters suggested that the final rule establish a formal 
process for any determinations of unreasonable director compensation 
and that the Director provide a written factual analysis to a Bank 
along with any order directing a Bank to cease further payments at that 
level. FHFA does not see the need to establish a formal process for 
reviewing the reasonableness of a Bank's compensation practices, since 
there are in place already certain requirements to ensure the Agency 
makes decisions in a responsible manner. Under the Bank Act and 
principles of administrative law, FHFA must act reasonably in all cases 
and must have a reasonable factual basis for any regulatory or 
supervisory actions it takes. In light of these statutory requirements, 
FHFA believes that it is not necessary to create an additional formal 
process or to treat decisions made on director compensation any 
differently from the many other supervisory determinations FHFA makes. 
While FHFA may not issue a formal written analysis to a Bank whenever 
the Director deems its compensation arrangements to be unreasonable, it 
will endeavor to ensure that it provides an opportunity for the Bank to 
provide its views. Further, the Agency will provide guidance and will 
advise generally on the aspects of the compensation practices deemed 
objectionable and suggest improvements. The guidance likely will be in 
the form of a dialogue with the Bank, much like FHFA staff already 
engages in with respect to other matters of supervisory concern.

D. Board Meetings--Section 1261.24

    In Sec.  1261.24 of the final rule, FHFA has combined two separate 
provisions of the proposed rule relating to board and committee 
meetings. Proposed Sec.  1261.26, which concerned the number of board 
and committee meetings, now appears in Sec.  1261.24(a) without 
substantive change. Proposed Sec.  1261.27, which concerned the site of 
board and committee meetings, now appears in 1261.24(b) without 
substantive change. FHFA did not receive any comments on these 
sections.

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The final rule does not contain any information collection 
requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and 
Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The final rule applies only to the Banks, which do not come within 
the meaning of ``small entities'' for purposes of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA). See 5 U.S.C. 601(6). Therefore, in accordance 
with section 605(b) of the RFA, 5 U.S.C. 605(b), the FHFA certifies 
that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Parts 918 and 1261

    Banks, Banking, Community development, Conflicts of interest, 
Credit, Elections, Ethical conduct, Federal home loan banks, Financial 
disclosure, Housing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Wages.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, under the authority of 12 
U.S.C. 4511 and 4526, FHFA hereby amends chapters IX and XII of title 
12 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

CHAPTER IX--FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD

PART 918--[REMOVED]

0
1. Remove 12 CFR part 918.

CHAPTER XII--FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

PART 1261--FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK DIRECTORS

0
2. The authority citation for part 1261 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1426, 1427, 1432, 4511, and 4526.

0
3. Redesignate subparts A, B, and C as subparts B, C, and D, 
respectively.

0
4. Redesignate Sec. Sec.  1261.1 through 1261.7 as Sec. Sec.  1261.2 
through 1261.8, respectively.

0
5. Add a new Subpart A to read as follows:

Subpart A--Definitions


Sec.  1261.1  Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    Bank written in title case means a Federal Home Loan Bank 
established under section 12 of the Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 1432).
    Bank Act means the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, as amended (12 
U.S.C. 1421 through 1449).
    Director means the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
    FHFA means Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Subpart B--[Amended]

0
6. Amend newly redesignated subpart B as follows:
0
a. Revise all references to ``the Act'' to read ``the Bank Act''; and
0
b. Amend references as indicated in the table below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    By removing the
             Amend:                  reference to:                      And adding in its place:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newly redesignated Sec.           12 CFR part 925....  12 CFR part 1263.
 1261.2, definition of the term
 ``Voting State''.
Newly redesignated Sec.           12 CFR 925.20 and    Sec.  Sec.   1263.20 and 1263.22 of this chapter.
 1261.4(a)(2).                     925.22, or any
                                   successor
                                   provisions.
Newly redesignated Sec.           12 CFR 925.20 and    Sec.  Sec.   1263.20 and 1263.22 of this chapter.
 1261.4(b).                        925.22, or any
                                   successor
                                   provisions.
Newly redesignated Sec.           Sec.   1261.3(c)...  Sec.   1261.4(c).
 1261.5(b).
Newly redesignated Sec.           Sec.   1261.3(c)...  Sec.   1261.4(c).
 1261.5(e)(1).
Newly redesignated Sec.           12 CFR 925.20 and    Sec.  Sec.   1263.20 and 1263.22 of this chapter.
 1261.6(b).                        925.22, or any
                                   successor
                                   provisions.
Newly redesignated Sec.           Sec.   1261.5......  Sec.   1261.6.
 1261.7(a)(4).
Newly redesignated Sec.           Sec.   1261.6(f)...  Sec.   1261.7(f).
 1261.8(a).
Newly redesignated Sec.           Sec.   1261.6(e)...  Sec.   1261.7(e).
 1261.8(a)(iii).
Newly redesignated Sec.           Sec.   1261.6(a)...  Sec.   1261.7(a).
 1261.8(b).
Newly redesignated Sec.           Sec.   1261.6(a)(3)  Sec.   1261.7(a)(3).
 1261.8(b).
Newly redesignated Sec.           Sec.   1261.5......  Sec.   1261.6.
 1261.8(d), introductory text.
Newly redesignated Sec.           Sec.   1261.6(e)...  Sec.   1261.7(e).
 1261.8(g)(2).
Sec.   1261.9(a)................  Sec.   1261.6(a)...  Sec.   1261.7(a).

[[Page 17040]]

 
Sec.   1261.14(b)...............  paragraphs (c) and   Sec.   1261.7(c) and (d).
                                   (d) of Sec.
                                   1261.6.
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0
7. In newly redesignated Sec.  1261.2 revise the introductory text to 
read as set forth below, and remove the definitions of the terms Act, 
Bank, Director and FHFA.


Sec.  1261.2  Definitions.

    As used in this Subpart B:
* * * * *

0
8. Amend newly redesignated Sec.  1261.4 by revising paragraph (d) and 
adding new paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  1261.4  Designation of member directorships.

* * * * *
    (d) Notification. On or before June 1 of each year, FHFA will 
notify each Bank in writing of the total number of directorships 
established for the Bank and the number of member directorships 
designated as representing the members in each voting state in the Bank 
district.
    (e) Change of state. If the annual designation of member 
directorships results in an existing directorship being redesignated as 
representing members in a different State, that directorship shall be 
deemed to terminate in the previous State as of December 31 of that 
year, and a new directorship to begin in the succeeding State as of 
January 1 of the next year. The new directorship shall be filled by 
vote of the members in the succeeding State and, in order to maintain 
the staggered terms of directorships, shall be adjusted to a term equal 
to the remaining term of the previous directorship if it had not been 
redesignated to another State.

0
9. Amend newly redesignated Sec.  1261.5 by revising paragraph (e) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  1261.5  Director eligibility.

* * * * *
    (e) Loss of eligibility. A director shall become ineligible to 
remain in office if, during his or her term of office, the directorship 
to which he or she has been elected is eliminated. The incumbent 
director shall become ineligible after the close of business on 
December 31 of the year in which the directorship is eliminated.


Sec.  1261.8  [Amended]

0
10. Amend newly redesignated Sec.  1261.8 by adding ``(1)'' after the 
``.'' at the end of the italicized heading of paragraph (a).

0
11. Add subpart C to read as follows:
Subpart C--Federal Home Loan Bank Directors' Compensation and Expenses
Sec.
1261.20 Definitions.
1261.21 General.
1261.22 Directors' compensation policy.
1261.23 Director disapproval.
1261.24 Board meetings.

Subpart C--Federal Home Loan Bank Directors' Compensation and 
Expenses


Sec.  1261.20  Definitions.

    As used in this subpart C:
    Compensation means any payment of money or the provision of any 
other thing of current or potential value in connection with service as 
a director. Compensation includes all direct and indirect payments of 
benefits, both cash and non-cash, granted to or for the benefit of any 
director.
    Expenses means necessary and reasonable travel, subsistence and 
other related expenses incurred in connection with the performance of 
official duties as are payable to senior officers of the Bank under the 
Bank's travel policy, except gift or entertainment expenses.


Sec.  1261.21  General.

    (a) Standard. Each Bank may pay its directors reasonable 
compensation for the time required of them, and their necessary 
expenses, in the performance of their duties, as determined by a 
resolution adopted by the board of directors of the Bank and subject to 
the provisions of this subpart.
    (b) Reporting. (1) Following calendar year. By December 31 of each 
calendar year, each Bank shall report to the Director the compensation 
it anticipates paying to its directors for the following calendar year.
    (2) Preceding calendar year. No later than the tenth business day 
of each calendar year, each Bank shall report to the Director the 
following information relating to director compensation, expenses and 
meeting attendance for the immediately preceding calendar year:
    (i) The total compensation paid to each director;
    (ii) The total expenses paid to each director;
    (iii) The total compensation paid to all directors;
    (iv) The total expenses paid to all directors;
    (v) The total of all expenses incurred at group functions that are 
not reimbursed to individual directors, such as the cost of group meals 
in connection with board and committee meetings;
    (vi) The total number of meetings held by the board and its 
designated committees; and
    (vii) The number of board and designated committee meetings each 
director attended in-person or through electronic means such as video 
or teleconferencing.


Sec.  1261.22  Directors' compensation policy.

    (a) General. Each Bank's board of directors annually shall adopt a 
written compensation policy to provide for the payment of reasonable 
compensation and expenses to the directors for the time required of 
them in performing their duties as directors. Payments under the 
directors' compensation policy may be based on any factors that the 
board of directors determines reasonably to be appropriate, subject to 
the requirements in this subpart.
    (b) Minimum contents. The compensation policy shall address the 
activities or functions for which director attendance or participation 
is necessary and which may be compensated, and shall explain and 
justify the methodology used to determine the amount of compensation to 
be paid to the Bank directors. The compensation policy shall require 
that any compensation paid to a director reflect the amount of time the 
director has spent on official Bank business, and shall require that 
compensation be reduced, as necessary to reflect lesser attendance or 
performance at board or committee meetings during a given year.
    (c) Prohibited payments. A Bank shall not pay a director who 
regularly fails to attend board or committee meetings, and shall not 
pay fees to a director that do not reflect the director's performance 
of official Bank business conducted prior to the payment of such fees.
    (d) Submission requirements. No later than the tenth business day 
after adopting its annual policy for director compensation and 
expenses, and at least 30 days prior to disbursing the first payment to 
any director, each Bank shall submit to the Director a copy of the 
policy, along with all studies or other supporting materials upon which 
the board relied in determining the level of compensation and expenses 
to pay to its directors.


Sec.  1261.23  Director disapproval.

    The Director may determine, based upon his or her review of a 
Bank's

[[Page 17041]]

director compensation policy, methodology and/or other related 
materials, that the compensation and/or expenses to be paid to the 
directors are not reasonable. In such case, the Director may order the 
Bank to refrain from making any further payments under that 
compensation policy. Any such order shall apply prospectively only and 
will not affect either compensation or expenses that have been earned 
but not yet paid or reimbursed or payments that had been made prior to 
the date of the Director's determination and order.


Sec.  1261.24  Board meetings.

    (a) Number of meetings. The board of directors of each Bank shall 
hold as many meetings each year as necessary and appropriate to carry 
out its fiduciary responsibilities with respect to the effective 
oversight of Bank management and such other duties and obligations as 
may be imposed by applicable laws, provided the board of directors of a 
Bank must hold a minimum of six in-person meetings in any year.
    (b) Site of meetings. The bank usually should hold board of 
director and committee meetings within the district served by the Bank. 
The Bank shall not hold board of director or committee meetings in any 
location that is not within the United States, including its 
possessions and territories.

    Dated: March 27, 2010.
Edward J. DeMarco,
Acting Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency.
[FR Doc. 2010-7418 Filed 4-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P